Early Israeli election turnout highest in decades as Netanyahu fights to keep power

Key Points:

• Israel is holding a pivotal national election with 37 parties competing, but only those surpassing a 3.25% vote threshold will enter the 120-seat Knesset, with polls predicting 11 to 13 parties will qualify.
• Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving leader, faces a significant challenge from centrist opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot, a former military chief of staff, with polls showing a close race and Eisenkot leading in head-to-head matchups.
• Voter turnout in the early hours is the highest in 45 years, reflecting the election’s perceived importance amid recent security failures, ongoing conflicts, and debates over Israel’s future political and social direction.
• The election is widely seen as a referendum on Netanyahu’s leadership, especially following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack and his controversial judicial overhaul efforts, with the outcome likely to hinge on complex coalition negotiations.
• Key campaign issues include national security, government accountability, the economy, and social unity, with both Netanyahu and his opponents emphasizing different visions for Israel’s path forward amid deep societal divisions.